Wireless vehicle-monitoring system

• US 9,520,005 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Telematics Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lowrey, Larkin, Washicko, Paul, O'Brien, Michael, Banet, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US13/845,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,367 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 701/31.6, 701/32.3, 701/32.4, 701/32.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle. The wireless appliance includes a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle, and then communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol. The appliance also includes a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, which collects diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol. A GPS module, also in electrical communication with the microprocessor, generates location-based data. For transmitting these data, the appliance includes a first wireless transmitter operating on a terrestrial network and a second wireless transmitter operating on a satellite network. The microprocessor selects the first or second wireless transmitter for transmitting the diagnostic and location-based data.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and

(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle, and further comprising a back-up battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the selected vehicle-communication protocol; and

(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols;

wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ASIC further comprises a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a back-up battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and

(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols;

wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a back-up battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.